Bangkok from Wat Arun - PHOTOGRAPHER COMMENT

I was fortunate to be in Bangkok on (Western) New Year's Day, when admission to Wat Arun, like many other public monuments in Bangkok, is free for Thai nationals. Not being Thai, I still had to pay, but it did mean that I was able to join the throngs on the upper level of the prang, which is not normally open to the public.

Bangkok from Wat Arun - FURTHER INFORMATION

Bangkok from Wat Arun - Bangkok visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Bangkok from Wat Arun' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Central Thailand.

Wat Arun (วัดอรุณ) is one of the oldest monasteries in Bangkok, predating the foundation of the modern city in 1782. The full name of the wat is Wat Arunratchawararam Ratchaworamahawihan (วัดอรุณราชวรารามราชวรมหาวิหาร). it stands on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River and is now one of the major tourist attractions in Bangkok, and features on many posters promoting Thailand. For a short time it housed the Emerald Buddha before this was moved to Wat Phra Kaew in the Royal Palace.

Wat Arun is called the 'Temple of Dawn', probably due to the effect of the early morning light on the central prang (Khmer-style tower). Around this central prang are four smaller supporters. These date from 1809-1851 and form a very distinctive part of the skyline of Bangkok. They are built from brick faced with stucco, and ornamented on every surface with pieces of broken Chinese porcelain, recycled from the ballast of Chinese trading ships. On the top of the central prang is a seven-pronged trident known as the 'Trident of Shiva'.

TRAVEL DIRECTIONS AND GETTING THERE

By River Ferry / Taxi. Wat Arun is open daily from 8.30am to 5.30pm. Entrance to Wat Arun costs 20 Bhat (information correct at time of writing).